The home-run derby is today at Yankee Stadium, and nobody’s got a better seat in – or above – The House that Ruth Built than Greg Poppenhouse. He’ll be high in the sky overlooking the All-Star Game festivities, slowly circling above the stadium as pilot of the Goodyear blimp.

Since 2000, the Akron, Ohio-based airman has been hovering over sports events in the Northeast – Goodyear also houses blimps in Pompano, Fla., and Carson, Calif. – so his travels regularly send him over Jets and Giants games and even the US Open tennis tournament in Queens. Poppenhouse, 45, who’s in charge of four other pilots and 15 ground-crew members, is making his first trip to baseball’s All-Star Game.

@work talked with sky captain Poppenhouse about what it’s like floating through life.

When did you first think of becoming a blimp pilot?

I grew up in Akron, Ohio – the corporate headquarters of Goodyear tires – and my family was active in hot-air ballooning. Growing up was all about aviation. Ever since I was 10, I’d go on weekend rallies. In fact, my first rating in aviation was a hot-air balloon rating.

Growing up in Akron, did you often see the blimp in the sky?

Actually, the blimp was based in Houston at that time. But like any kid, I saw it on TV. And I said, “That’s what I want to fly.”

What flying experience did you have before the blimp?

In high school, I got an airplane license. Later, I was in the Army for 8½ years and flew an Apache helicopter. I flew in the first Gulf war in ’91. After getting out of the service in ’94, I moved back to Akron and served in a Guard unit for two years. Then I saw an ad in the local newspaper that Goodyear was hiring – but for a factory-worker position. My ultimate goal was to be a blimp pilot, but I had no idea what the requirements were. I figured I’d start by getting a foot in the door. I knew if it didn’t work out with the blimp, I’d still be at a good company and I could make a career there. So in 1998 I started as a mill operator.

How long did that last?

Eighteen months. Then I moved up to a quality-control position. That gave me access to the internal computer system, where I noticed a job board posting positions throughout Goodyear, usually in sales, marketing, engineering. One day in 2000, they also posted for blimp pilot. Right place, right time, with the right ratings and background.

What was your first day like?

They sent me out to train with the California crew. It’s totally different than an airplane. In a plane, you have a yoke, which you push in and pull back. In a blimp, you have a wheel. And by turning it forward or backward, your pitch goes up and down. Then you have pedals, like in a helicopter, to steer left or right.

Is it like being in a Willy Wonka movie or something?

When I first stepped into the blimp, it’s like stepping back in time. Blimps haven’t changed much – the ones we fly in are almost a carbon copy of the blimps they flew in World War II.

What’s it like piloting the blimp?

I’d flown airplanes, helicopters and hot-air balloons, and it’s a little bit of each one. You float like a hot-air or gas balloon. You fly it much like a plane, with the elevators and the rudders to steer. And landing it is a lot like a helicopter because you’re landing at a fixed location.

Is it hard to land?

Landing is a totally different sensation than a plane. We burn off most of our weight in fuel. On an hour flight, let’s say, I’m going to burn eight gallons of fuel, which is roughly 50 pounds. So when we land, we practically weigh nothing. If you weigh nothing and you’re floating around at 1,000 feet, you’ve got to drive it to the ground.

How fast will it go?

Well, for this trip from Akron to New York, we had a tailwind from the west, which can help. Usually, though, we’re only going 30 to 35 mph. Even if we could go faster, we can’t land without the crew, who are driving in a convoy of vehicles, so we don’t get too far ahead. There’s plenty of time to look around and see the scenery.

What are your favorite events to fly over?

I like NASCAR races. We’re only about 1,000 feet above the ground, so our cameraman can look down and see pretty much everything – the cars, the battles, who’s going into the pit. With a football or baseball game, that’s such a small area of activity. We just shot Game 6 of the NBA Finals in Boston, and people ask, “Why are you flying over an arena with a roof?” But it’s just to give people a shot of Boston. Our whole objective with aerial photography is to provide beauty shots, to give people a sense of perspective.

What’s the most challenging event to cover?

Probably golf. I’ve done the Firestone Open in Akron. And, of course, the TV director wants you to follow the pack, which means Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson. So we’re trying to get into position, but we can’t allow our blimp’s shadow to fall on any of the players on the nearby holes. We can’t be a distraction.

Is that the biggest no-no for a blimp pilot?

Absolutely. We’re constantly looking to see where our shadow is, and we’re staying out of the line of the sun. You don’t want a fly ball to go up and have an outfielder lose it because our shadow suddenly comes across. To be honest, our job’s a lot easier on cloudy days.

Does it get crowded in the sky?

Since 9/11, only one blimp is allowed per broadcast. We have to get waivers for what’s called a temporary flight restriction area. But for the Celtics’ victory parade in Boston, for example, there were two blimps, six banner-towing planes, a half-dozen helicopters. Air traffic staggered us at different altitudes, and there’s also air-to-air frequency assigned, so we can talk to the other planes.

Why is this a dream job?

Ever since I was a kid, this is what I’ve wanted to do. We’re a rare breed. At Goodyear right now, we have 12. And the only time we hire is when someone retires. Did you know there are more astronauts in the United States than blimp pilots?

What’s the best part?

We can take up to six passengers. And the best part about the job is that I make every one of our passengers smile. People love the blimp. It makes everyone a kid again.